Scare blamed on faulty valve

The source of mould contamination which sparked a million pound product recall at a Shropshire factory has been found, bosses announced today.

A valve was to blame for the contamination at Dairy Crest's Crudgington factory, which halted production and forced bosses to recall two million tubs of Clover spread.

Final tests and trial runs are now being carried out at the factory, in preparation for production of the low fat spread to restart next week.

Dairy Crest ordered the tubs to be removed from supermarket shelves after 17 people complained of feeling sick after eating the spread, although it said the mould was not harmful.

The recall has resulted in the group's shares falling.

The company fears several hundred tubs had been accidentally mixed with a mould most commonly found in blue cheese.

Nicole Lander, Dairy Crest communications director, said: "We have had a rigorous review of all the elements of the production line process at Crudgington.

"On the Clover production line, we have highlighted an issue with a valve which we believe is the root cause of the problem.

"We have deep cleaned all the equipment and the factory will commence production early next week."

She added: "The guys down there have done an absolutely brilliant job.

"The mould has been caused by spores in the air that are naturally present.

"What's happened is that somehow some spores have got into the tubs.

"It's only a few tubs that are affected and because we don't know which tubs are affected we have had to call them all back."

All sizes of Clover tubs with best before dates up to August 10 have been recalled.